Dear Editor, Picking up on Jimmy the Hat’s view that Steve Gibbons should be included on the Walk of Stars (Post, June 28), a view with which I agree incidentally, perhaps Steve Winwood (born in Handsworth) or Jeff Lynne (born in Shard End) should also be considered by the powers that decide these matters.

Particularly as they have had the nerve to include non-Brummies on the Walk of Stars such as Julie Walters (born in Smethwick), Noddy Holder (born in Walsall), Lenny Henry (born in Dudley) and Nigel Mansell (born in Shipston-on-Stour).

With the odd exception, it would appear that one of the main criteria for being included on Broad Street, is the fact that the recipient has to be born outside of the city.

It is also a travesty that no one from the world of cricket has been included, the exclusion of Birmingham’s greatest living cricketer, Dennis Amiss MBE, is a joke. Dennis will be 70 on April 7 next year and there could be no more fitting tribute than for his inclusion on the Walk of Stars.

Not only is he Birmingham’s greatest living cricketer but he still lives in the city and has put a tremendous amount back in to the local community. Surely Dennis must be included?

Perhaps the Birmingham Post could put in a good word?

David Lloyd

By Email

Dear Editor, Birmingham City Council has taken away my single person’s discount and plan to charge me the extra for the last few months because I’ve spent less time in my property. Where is the sense in that?

I’ve been looking to rent my flat and move in with my partner. As is the way, we’ve spent progressively more time together. I’ve been going back and forth to maintain my flat, eat and sleep. I pay my bills, cut my grass, collect my mail, all the usual actions of a householder at their property. Meanwhile, my partner does the same at his respective property.

I was delighted to get tenants in on Friday and contacted Birmingham to advise them of my good news. In a casual exchange of words about where I’d moved to, the voice at the end of the phone informed me, as I was technically not living in the flat full time I was no longer entitled to a single person discount, which would be back-dated and the full amount would be charged.

I tried to understand the rationale of both my partner and I paying for full occupancy on two places, leaving the council with ill-gotten gains from four people when there are only two of us.

It is a wonder the council are having to lay off staff, you’d think they would be rolling in cash with their creative accounting or perhaps it’s their lack of common sense and customer service which sees them failing.

I am still awaiting a call back from the unhelpful and frankly rude call centre operative’s supervisor. But I do hope when I finally get a call back I will be told just how ridiculous their proposition of me paying full occupancy because I was in my flat less, actually is.

I’m not asking for a discount just to pay the amount I have been paying to date. Perhaps this borders optimism rather than realism. It certainly borders on ridiculous.

Suzanne, Edgbaston

Dear Editor, I am writing to draw attention to an aspect of Birmingham which enriches all our lives, but could very easily become a victim of cuts. It is the Parks and Gardens division of the city council’s Environment Department.

Birmingham is one of the greenest cities in the country, but the threat of cuts and fewer horticultural maintenance staff makes the future very uncertain.

So how courageous and determined it was of the city to enter the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year, the only Local Authority to do so. Their spectacular stand, the Best of Birmingham, won a much-coveted gold medal, and it was at no cost to the tax-payer.

Then at the beginning of this month, they went on to win another Gold Medal at BBC Gardeners’ World Live, and also Best Floral Exhibit in Show.

Next month they go on to the Tatton Park Show to enter the RHS National Flowerbed competition, and I have no doubt that their skill, artistry and sheer hard work will shower them in glory once again. When their displays return, we, who work in Birmingham are able to feel the benefit of colour and greenery cheering up the streets and squares.

The horticultural team are flying a magnificent floral flag for the city, showing the world what a colourful and artistic place it is. Please do not make this superb division of BCC become another cut to save money. We all need it and we should be proud of it.

Kay Alexander

Chairman, Birmingham Assay Office

Dear Editor, Many people receive parcels by post these days. There are numerous carriers, most good, some not so good.

Most people expect to have their parcel redelivered if they happen to be out first time, and virtually all will do this.

Parcelforce, however, is the exception. At their discretion, not yours, they will dump your parcel at the “nearest” Post Office, even if that office is miles away, and will then expect you to trudge through the town to do their job for them.

Once the parcel has gone to a Post Office, they will not redeliver, however many times you complain. If you do take the trouble to compose a letter of complaint, do not expect a reply, other than a computer-generated acknowledgment, or, possibly, if you are lucky, a standard cover-all letter.

Parcelforce, although owned by the Government, is separate to Royal Mail, is not in any way regulated, and is a law unto itself.

I suggest that anyone who orders by post, and is not at home full time, should ask their supplier not to send their goods by Parcelforce.

As the old proverb says: once bitten, twice shy.

MJ Richards, Church Stretton

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Dear Editor, David Cameron told us there would be no cuts in front line police officers. Another bit of political licence or just a plain simple lie?

Already we see that there is a reduction now of 6.500 front line officers, but the rhetoric has changed and now it’s not that the government promised to protect but to preserve front line services.

It seems there is a different interpretation to what this actually means, but the simple numerical facts are that front line services are being cut, and there are fewer police on the beat to fight crime, and even more disturbing is that the cuts haven’t really started to bite